Musical tuning device



w. D. GLADsToNE 2,132,105l

MUSICAL TUNIvNG DEVIQE K Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 4, 1938. w, D, GLADSTQNE 2,132,105

MUSICAL TUNING DEVICE Filed July 25, .'1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

/n/@l ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GF'FICE MUSICAL TUNING DEVICE Application July 25, 1936, Serial No. 92,478

11 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for tuning percussion musical instruments carrying vibratory diaphragms and especially to the tuning of drums.

The tone and resonance of a drum are dependent upon the vibrations of the two diaphragms, and as these -Vibrationsare turn dependent upon the degree of tautness of the diaphragms, it is evident that their relative rigidity highly essential and that, therefore, means must be ernployed to control these vibrations by controlling the tautness of the diaphragms.

These essential results are obtained by varying the-.stretch of the drum heads.

It is to be noted that there must be a proper relative tautness between the two diaphragms and that hence, each must be stretched with relation to the other.

This is accomplished by passing the outer portion of each drum diaphragm over an end portion of the drum side and affixing it to a vertically movable flesh hoop, above which, and abutting upon it, is a vertically movable counterhoop extending above the plane of the diaphragm, the amount of stretch of the diaphragm being accomplished by a vertical movement of the counterhoop.

The evident devices for accomplishing this result are a plurality of tightening members, each having a hook or hooks placed above and upon the counterhoop with means adapted for moving the counterhoops vertically and for maintaining them any desired position.

The usually employed devices for this purpose vconsist of a plurality of devices for tightening the batter head diaphragm and a plurality of independent devices ior tightening the snare head diaphragm. These devices consist of a plurality of rods, threaded at one end to cooperate with a iixed threaded element attached to the drum side, the end of each rod being of angular shape to t within a corresponding recessed key forfpurposes of revolution of the rod, one end of each rod carrying a hook, or hooks, to engage the upper edge of a counterhoop. 'I'he construction of these devices is such that the key ends of each series of rods are adjacent the ends of the drum carrying the diaphragm to be tightened.

In tuning a drum, the operator taps the batter head with the drum stick, notes the tone and slowly tightens, or loosens, both diaphragms during the tapping operation until the desired tone is produced. As there are usually eight, or more,

tightening devices for each diaphragm, that ls, sixteen or more upon the drum, and as these mustfbe moved until a uniform stretch of the diaphragm having the proper tone is produced, itis evident that each tightening member must be revolved many times by means of a key.

As a drum cannot be conveniently reversed during the tuning operation, as the operator must continually tap the batter head, the present employed devices require him to place his key in reversed position at the lower end of the drum in order to affect the snare head diaphragm, and as this operation must be repeated many times, the y diaphragms may be controlled independently of each other and may also be controlled in unison.

When a drum is properly tuned, it will be retained in that condition for a considerable length cf time under normal conditions, but because of the physical reactions of the drum head skins they are affected by changes of temperature and weatherl conditions, a dry hot atmosphere or a moist atmosphere, changing the tune to a more or less extent and requiring a re-tuning to obtain the proper tone.

With the present employed devices, this requires a complete new tuning by operating every one of the many tuning elements.

In one form of my device I have overcome this great disadvantage in the use of the present employed devices.

In this form of my device both diaphragms of a drum, affected as above mentioned, can be simultaneously, equally and uniformly tightened or loosed by means of a single key movement which will affect both diaphragms.

This is accomplished by a construction of elements of my device whereby a single key movement Will equally tighten, or loosen, both diaphragms.

It will thus be noted that when a drum carrying my device is properly tuned, and the tone subsequently changed by weather conditions, the original tone can be recovered by the simultaneous tightening, or loosening, of both diaphragms.

The above mentioned, and other, advantages incident to the employment of the devices of my invention willbe evident upon a consideration of this specification and its accompanying drawings,

in which similar parts are indicated by similar characters.

Figure 1 is a front view of one of the tuning devices of my invention shown attached to a drum.

Figure 2 is a section through the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a key adapted to operate with the devices of Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of a modified form of nro the device of my invention, shown attached to a drum.

Figure 5 is a section through the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

The particular form of a device of my invention shown in Figuresy 1 and 2 consists of a tubu- Ylar supporting member iii, having the two extended lugs, or legs, Il, H which are xedly attached to the side A of a drum, by means or the screws l2, l2. The interior face of the upper portion of. the supporting member Hl is threaded and the bore of the member lil is reduced in siz the lower portion i3. Threaded within the supporting member l@ is an externally threaded tubular member Ul, the upper portion of which terminates in an angular key receiving member i5. The tubular member lil passes through the bore of a tightening member consisting of the body portion i6, the arms l?, I7 and the two hooked members i8, i8 which are shown as extending inwardly over the counterhoop B at the batter head end of the drum. The batt-er head diaphragm C of the drum passes over the inwardly bent portion D of the side A, thence downwardly and around the flesh hoop E andthe counterhoop B abutting upon the flesh hoop E and being vertically movable along the rside A of the drum.

t will thus be seen that if the angular recess i9 of the key shown in Figure 3 be placed over the element l5 of the tubular member lli and be revolved in one direction the tubular member i4 will move downwardly, the hooks it, l will move the counterhoop B and the esh hook E downwardly thus tightening the batter head diaphragm C, and that a reverse movement of the key will loosen the batter head diaphragm C.

Positioned within the tubular tightening member lll and vertically movable therein is a member 25, the upper end 2l of which is angular to receive a key. The member 25 carries a fixed guiding collar 22 and a xed collar 23 capable of abutting upon the shoulder 24 formed in the tubular member l by its reduced bore. The lower end 25 of. the member 2li is threaded and is capable of being threaded within the threaded bore 26 of the snare tightening member which consists of the body 2l, the two extended arms 2S, 28 and the two hook members 29, 29 which are shown as extended inwardly over the counterhoop B at the snare end of the drum. The snare head diaphragm C of the drum passes over the inwardly bent portion D of the side A, thence upwardly and around the esh hoop E and the counterhoop B' abutting upon the hoop E and being vertically movable along the side A of the drum. v

It will thus be seen that if the angular recess 3B of the key shown in Figure 3 be placed over the element 2l of the member 2l] and be revolved in one direction the member 2B will move upwardly, the hooks 29, 29 will move the Counterhoop B and the flesh hoop E upwardly, thus tightening the snare head diaphragm C' and that a reverse movement of the key will loosen the snare head diaphragm C'.

The key shown in Figure 3 has three operating recesses, recess i9 being formed to t the member i5 for tightening the batter head diaphragm, the recess 30 for tightening the snare head diaphragm, and the recess 3i in the central stem arm is so formed that the outer enlarged portion will fit the element l 5 and the inner reduced portion Will `iit the element 2i and hence it is evident that when this master portion 3| of the key is employed it will revolve both the tubular member lli and the member 2U thus simultaneously tightening, or loosening, both the batter head diaphragm and the snare head diaphragm, it being noted that the threads in the members l5 and 2l match each other, in that both are shown as right-hand threads.

It is obvious that the short hollow headed and apertured downwardly extended stem portion shown in Figure 3 provides for the attachment of a key chain, if so desired.

The simplicity and ease of its removal from and attachment to a drum are evident when it is considered that the device can be disassembled by simply revolving the member 20 from its threaded attachment with the body member 2l and withdrawing it from the member I and then revolving the member I4 from its threaded attachment with the supporting member l0 and withdrawing it from the body member i6.' It will thus be seen that the device consists of only the three members l5, i4 and 2 and the two hooked members lli and 2l.

The usual method for operating the device con sists in alternatingly tightening the diaphragms C and C by the employment of the ends i9 and 3B of the key until the desired resonance or tone is obtained. This condition is maintained until, because of atmospheric conditions, or otherwise, the diaphragms have become unduly loosed or tightened in which event both diaphragme are simultaneously and uniformly tightened or loosened, by the employment of. the key end 3! as above described, thereby to produce ,the original desired resonance or tone, all of 'tion consists of a bracket d, having the two extended lugs 4l, il which are xedly attached to the side A of a drum by means of the screws 42, 42.

That portion of the device adapted for tightening, or loosening, the batter head diaphragm C consists of a rod G3, the upper end lli of Which vis of angular formation, the rod carrying the xed collar G5, the lower end 46 of the rod 43 being threaded to thread with the threaded bore 4l of the support lil). The rod 43 passes also through the opening 43 of the batter .head tightening means which consists of the body 49, the arms 5B, 50 and the hooked members 5l, 5| shown as extended over the batter head counterhoop B.

1t is evident that a revolution of the rod B3 will tighten, or loosen, the batter head diaphragm C, dependent upon the directionV of revolution.

The elements of construction adapted for tightening, or loosening, the snare head diaphragm C consist of a rod 52, the upper end 53 of which is of angular formation, therod 52 carrying the iixed collar 54 and having a threaded lower end 55. The rodr52 passes through the opening 56 in the body member 49, the openings 5l and 58 in the supporting member 40, and is threaded within the threaded bore 59 of the snare tightenlngmember A.which consists of Ythe body 60, the arms 6 l, 6I andthe hookedrv members 61.62 which are shown as vextending rover the snare counterhoop B. Itis evident that a revolutionof the rod 52 will tighten, or loosen, the snare head diaphragmC, dependent upon the direction of revolution.

The ends 44 and 53 may be of the same size and formation, thus allowing the use of the same key-forY acting upon both diaphragms,.if desired. It will thus be seen that either, or both, diaphragms can be tightened or loosened without reversing the drum. kThe' devices of my invention, therefore, present many advantages over the devices now employed for the purposes described and allow of amore accurate andmore easy accomplishment of the proper tuning of a drum.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shapenumber or arrangement of parts as shown and described-as these are given solely for the purpose of clearly describing my invention.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member iixedly attachable to the side of a drum, artightening member detachably engageable with av counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with one of said members and having threaded adjusting engagementv with the other oneof said members, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoopof-a drum,a vrotatable adjusting tie rod extending between said latter tightening member and said supporting member andhaving a shoulder in abutment with one of these members and h aving threaded adjusting engagement with the other one of these members, one of said rods having an end portion positioned to be accessible from the outer end of one of said tightening membersand by means of which this adjusting rod can be individually rotated, and an end extension uponthe other said rod having an end portion positioned to be accessible from the outer end of the same said tightening member from which said rod end portion is accessible and by means of which'this said other adjusting rod can be individually rotated.

2. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member fixedly attachable to the side of a drum, a tightening member detachably engageable with .a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said tightening member and having threaded adjusting engagement with said supporting member, an end portion of said rod being accessible from the outer end of said tightening member and by means of which said adjusting rod can be individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said supporting member and having threaded adjusting engagement with said latter tightening member, and an end extension upon said latter rod extending from said supporting member to said first mentioned tightening member and'fromthe outer end of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and bymeans-ofwhich said latter adjusting rod can be individually rotated.

3. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member xedly. attachable to the side of a drum, a tightening member detachably engageable with a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable .adjustingltie Vrod having a shoulder in abutment withv said. tightening. member and having .threadedaadjusting engagement with said supporting member, an end portion of saidrod being. accessible from the outer end of said tighteningmemberand by means of which said adjusting rodean be individuallyrotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with theother counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting .tie rod having a shoulder ln abutment with'said supporting member and having threadedadjusting engagement with said latter tighteningcmemberfan endextension upon said latter rod extending from said `supporting member to said drst mentioned tightening member and from the outer' end of said iirstmentionedtighteningfmemberfanendportion of said extension isaccessible andby means of which said latter adjusting rod can be individually rotated, and coupling lmeans .disconnectibly engageable concomitantly with said rod end portion and .with said rod extension end portion and being thus adapted forfslmultaneously rotating both of. said .adjusting rods'together as a unit.

-4. Ina drum tuning devicefin combination, a supporting'member flxedly attachable to the side of the drum, a tightening member detachably enga'geable'with-a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatabletubular adjusting rod tying said members together-and having threaded adjusting engagement with atleast one of said members, an outer end portion ofsaidtubular rod being accessible from kthe .outer end of said tightening member and by means of which said tubular adjusting rod can .be individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum,` a rotatable adjusting rod tying together said latter member and said supporting member and having threaded adjusting engagement with at least one of these members, and an end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the outer end. of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension i s accessible and by means of which saidrlatter adjusting rod can be individually rotated.

5. In .a drum tuning device, in combination, a supportingmember iixedly attachable to the side offa drum, a tightening member detachably engageable -with `a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable tubular adjusting rod tying said members together and having threaded adjusting engagement with at least one of said members, an outer end portion of said tubular rod being accessible from the outer end of said tightening member and by'means of which said tubular adjusting rodcanbe individually rotated, another tightening .member .detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting rod tying together said latter member and said supportingr member and having threaded adjusting vengagement with at least one of these members, an-end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the Outer end of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and by means of which said vlatter adjusting rod can be individually rotated, and coupling means disconnectibly engageable concomitantly with the outer endportion of said tubular rod and with the end portion of said rod extension and being thus adapted for simultaneously rotating both of said adjusting rods together as a unit.

6. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member flxedly attachable to the side LOI of a drum, a `tightening member-detachably engageable with a counterhoop of a drum, arotatable tubular adjusting tie rod having a Ashoulder in abutment with one of said members and having threaded adjusting engagementA with l.the other one of said members, an end'portion of said tubular rod being accessible from the outer end of said tightening member and by means of which said tubular adjusting rod can lbe individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod extending between said latter tightening member and said supporting member and having a shoulder in abutment with one of these members and having threaded adjusting engagement with the other oneof these members, and an end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the outer end of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and by means of which said latter adjustingircd can be individually rotated.

.'7. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member iiXedlyl attachable to the side of a drum, Va tightening member detachably engageable with a counterhoop of a drum,v a rotatable tubular adjusting tie rod having a shoulder inrabutment with one of said members and having threaded adjusting engagement with the other one of saidmembers, an end portion of said tubular rod being accessible from the outer end of ksaid tightening member and by means of which said tubular adjusting rod can be individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod extending between said latter tightening member and said supporting member and having a shoulder in abutment with one of these members and havingthreaded adjusting engagement with the other one of these members, an end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the outer end of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and by means of whichsaid latter adjusting rod can be individually rotated, and coupling means disconnectibly engageable concomitantly with the outer end portion of said tubular rod and with the end portion of said rod extension and being thus adapted for simultaneously rotating both Vof said adjusting rods together as a unit.

8. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member ixedly attachable to the side of a drum, a tightening member detachably engageable with a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable tubular adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said tightening member and having threaded adjusting engagement with said supporting member, an end portion of said rlrst mentioned tightening member beyond its said shoulder being accessible from the outer end of said tightening member and by means of which said tubular adjusting rod can be individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said supporting member and having threaded adjusting engagement with said latter tightening member, and an end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the outer end ofwhich tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and by means of which said latter adjusting rod can be individually rotated.

' 9. In a drum tuning device, in combination, a supporting member iixedly attachable to the side of a drum, a tightening member detachably engageable with .a counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable tubular adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said tightening member and having threaded adjusting engagement with said supporting member, an end portion of said tubular rod beyond its said shoulder being accessible from the outer end of said tightening member and by means of which said tubular adjusting rod can be individually rotated, another tightening member detachably engageable with the other counterhoop of a drum, a rotatable adjusting tie rod having a shoulder in abutment with said supporting member and having threaded adjustf ing engagement with said latter tightening member, an end extension upon said latter rod extending into said tubular rod and from the outer end of which tubular rod an end portion of said extension is accessible and by means of which said latter adjusting rod can be individually rotated, and coupling means disconnectibly engageable concomitantly with the outer end portion of said tubular rod and with the end portion of said rod extension and being thus adapted for simultaneously rotating both of said adjusting rods together as a unit.

l0. In a drum tuning device, in combination, an interiorly -threaded supporting member iixedly attached to the side of a drum, adjustable drumhead tightening means adapted for detachably tying together said supporting member and a batter hoop of a drum and including a rotatable threaded adjusting member threaded within said supporting means, other interiorly threaded tightening drumhead tightening means for the bottom counterhoop of said drum, and second adjustable drum-head tightening means adapted for detachably tying together the batter head tightening-means and the bottom head tighten-l ing means including a rotatable threaded member threaded within said bottom drum-head tightening member, said two tying members carrying means whereby they can be separately rotated.

11. In a drum tuning device, in combination, an interiorly threaded supporting member xedly attached to the hide of a drum, adjustable drumhead tightening means adapted for detachably tying together said supporting member and a batter hoop of a drum and including a rotatable threaded adjusting member threaded within said supporting means, other interiorly threaded tightening drum-head tightening means for the bottom counterhoop of said drum, and second adjustable drum-head tightening means adapted for detachably tying together the batter head tightening means and the bottom head tightening means including a rotatable threaded member threadedV within said bottom drum-head tightening member, said two tying members being adjacent to each other, and adjacent to the same counterhoop and carrying means whereby they can be separately rotated.

WILLIAM D. GLADSTONE'. 

